Marion Post 584 will play host to the
2016 Department of Ohio American Legion Golf
Tournament on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 13-14, at
Whetstone Golf Course and Kingsmill Golf
Course.

The format has changed for the golf tournament
to a four-person Scramble Format as follows:

Each team member must hit three (3) tee shots
during a round.

Club length relief from ball location, except
from hazards, Out of Bounds.

Cannot move from rough into fairway.

When the ball is hit on green, mark the ball,
and then putt from mark, until holed.

If putt is missed, mark, and finish putting, do
not tap in until all have putted.

All putts to be holed, no freebies.

The 2016 Department of Ohio Golf Tournament is
open to American Legion Department of Ohio,
Auxiliary, and Sons, 21 years of age and over.

Make your own team, have fun and enjoy the game
and comradery, this is truly a Legion Family event
that the entire family can be together. Organizers
hope this increases participation and enjoyment of
the annual tournament.

Special Olympics: Organizers ask
for
100 percent participation by Memorial
Day

By Gary Minadeo
Department Parliamentarian

The Department of Ohio Special Olympics Program
is a one-of-a-kind operation in the American
Legion. Most Departments no longer have a
Department emphasis on Special Olympics, but we in
Ohio have always seen this as a major area of
service and love for these very special
individuals.

Yearly, the Special Olympics Committee budgets
$30,000-$32,000 to support the Winter Games with
over 400 athletes and coaches by sponsoring a
breakfast and various alpine and cross country
events, the American Legion "Tent Town" at the
state Special Olympics games where Legionnaires
distribute various useful and fun items to over
3200 athletes, and finally the state Aquatic
Games.

Letters were sent in January to each Post,
Squadron, and Unit establishing the standard goal
of $20 per Post, Squadron, and Unit. This has been
the goal for quite a few years.

These monies go a long way to simply putting a
smile on the Olympians' faces, while firmly
establishing in the minds and hearts of thousands
of Special Olympians that they can depend on The
American Legion to be there for them every
year.

Some simple math reveals that the $20 goal with
100% participation is not enough to fund the budget
stated above. So one may ask "then why have such a
small goal?" and the answer is that the Special
Olympics Committee seeks 100% participation from
our Posts, Squadrons, and Units first.

Once a Post, Squadron, and Unit resolve to
support this very worthy program at the minimum
level, it is not long before they will want to do
more.

As a matter of fact, many Posts, Squadrons, and
Units historically give hundreds above the minimum
covering about 90% of the budget with the shortfall
each year covered from the Special Olympics
Committee reserve funds. The Committee does
understand that many of our Posts, Squadrons, and
Units support their own local Special Olympics
programs.

This is very commendable and is another reason
why we ask for only $20 from all and more from
those who desire to give more.

The Department Special Olympics program is not
in a monetary crisis even though the past few years
this program did experience shortfalls.

The Department does, however, have a commitment
crisis with less than 50% of the American Legion
family meeting the $20 minimum each year. Please
stand up for these fantastic Olympians in your
Post, Squadron, and Unit and ask for $20 to be sent
to Department before Memorial Day.

Let's all pitch in to keep the Department of
Ohio Special Olympics Program strong and an example
of service to community.